Photo Credit: Ed Mulholland“I seen a lot of stuff I didn’t think was true,” said Bernard Hopkins. “Like a two-headed cow. It was freaky stuff.”

Hopkins was speaking of a recent visit to the headquarters of Ripley’s Believe it or Not, the famous purveyors of the bizarre and improbable, where he underwent a full body cast last year to create a life size likeness. It is testament to the implausible nature of the Philadelphian’s career that the proprietors of Ripley’s determined that it merited his being included among their exhibits, alongside the likes of The Mexican Vampire Woman and the aforementioned bi-headed bovine.

If that seems a slightly extreme evaluation, then certainly Hopkins’ career has by any measure been a remarkable one. A record twenty defenses of the middleweight crown and two spells as light heavyweight champ is by itself an impressive résumé, but the stats tell only a small part of the story. It can be plausibly argued that Hopkins has not clearly lost a fight since falling short in his first title shot, against Roy Jones, Jr., in 1993; of those who have officially defeated him since that time, Jones is a shell of a fighter whose win Hopkins has avenged; Jermain Taylor, who ended Hopkins’ middleweight reign, crashed and burned and has not fought in over two years; and Joe Calzaghe has retired.

Yet Hopkins keeps on ticking, and while there is so much more to his career than its longevity, that – and, inseparably, his age – are the twin themes to which it is so easy to return, and with good reason. As Hopkins prepares to meet the challenge of yet another young buck, Chad Dawson, in Los Angeles on Saturday, it is the element that he himself emphasizes.

“I want to look like his father,” Hopkins said of Dawson recently, referring to the gray flecks that now populate his hair and beard. “I could be his father. It’s appropriate for me to look gray and have gray. If you do the math, he could be my son. I’m 46, he’s 29, I had him early, it all fits into the scheme of the professor versus the good student who wants to be a great student.”

Ultimately, all good things must come to an end, as even Hopkins acknowledges. Whether it will be this Saturday at the hands of Dawson, or at a later date at the whims of Father Time, Hopkins’ career must eventually conclude. It is unlikely we shall see one quite like it ever again.

UPCOMING FIGHTS

INSTAGRAM

After scoring a 2nd-round knockdown, @jorgelinares fought off a resolute @luke11campbell to retain his titles in a split-decision victory. #LinaresCampbell

In a hard-fought, back-and-forth battle, @jorgelinares overcomes a gutsy rally from @luke11campbell to earn a split-decision victory and defend his lightweight titles. #LinaresCampbell

Fight night STARTS NOW with the exclusive replay of @canelo vs. @gggboxing followed immediately by live boxing featuring the lightweight title bout between @jorgelinares and @luke11campbell.
Tune in now to HBO World Championship Boxing. #CaneloGGG #LinaresCampbell

Will @luke11campbell take home @jorgelinares' title belts tonight?
Tune in to HBO World Championship Boxing at 10 PM ET/PT for the exclusive replay of #CaneloGGG followed immediately by #LinaresCampbell.

@jorgelinares puts his lightweight titles on the line against @luke11campbell on Saturday.
Will Campbell be ready? Tune in to HBO at 10 PM ET/PT. #LinaresCampbell

"Andre Ward ends his boxing career as he only knew how to live it -- as a champion at the top. To watch Ward was to marvel at constant mastery of craft in the ring, to say nothing of his being the consummate role model outside it. The Hall of Fame will be lucky to have him.
"We wish Andre and his family much success and happiness as he explores new opportunities, including with our own HBO family as one of the expert analysts on our broadcast team.
"It was a privilege for HBO to serve as the television platform for many of his landmark achievements in the sport he loves." - Peter Nelson, Executive Vice President, HBO Sports

Saturday: Watch three-division world champ @jorgelinares defend his lightweight titles against hard-hitting rising star @luke11campbell.
Tune in to @HBO World Championship Boxing Saturday at 10 PM ET/PT for the replay of #CaneloGGG followed by #LinaresCampbell.

A fight that was years in the making exceeded all expectations. #CaneloGGG